The correct answer is J. Northeast.
Explanation:
The geographic center of area for the 48 contiguous states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) would be located to the northeast of the geographic center of area for all 50 states.
This is because:
1. Alaska, being the largest state by land area, is located in the northwest corner of the United States. Its inclusion in the calculation of the geographic center of all 50 states would pull the center point further northwest compared to the 48 contiguous states.
2. Hawaii, being an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean, is situated far to the southwest of the continental United States. Its inclusion would also contribute to shifting the geographic center of all 50 states towards the southwest compared to the 48 contiguous states.
Therefore, the geographic center of area for the 48 states that make up the continental United States would be located in the northeast direction from the geographic center of area for all 50 states.
